This Podcast Is Everything You Want To Know About The Darker Side Of The World

Well, my name is Casey, and I have a very... Stories background. I have an education in broadcasting, with an emphasis on radio. I've had a passion for it since I was just a teen, and the freedom podcasting offers is unlike any other form of broadcast media.

The Horror Shots podcast is all in the name. I love history, myths, lore, and legends, and I've always been fascinated by history. So with the two being so closely related, it was only natural to combine them into a cast. Of course, at times I'll throw in popular culture topics, such as movie reviews, or the history of horror movies. Gotta spice things up once in a while.

The people who listen the Horror Shots podcast are generally people of a curious nature and who have an interest in horror or history. Mostly if you're the first to see the latest horror movies, or love flicks like the mothman prophecy, this is for you. Or if you stay up at night and wonder if bigfoot is wandering around the woods of Washington state, this cast is for you. In the end, I really do love my listeners, and I've met some wonderful people through the cast, and I'm an really quite honored and humbled everytime I see a new download.

I'm a talker. I always got in trouble in school for running my mouth, and generally bosses hate me due to me just chatting away. I can't help it, and so podcasting just made sense. Plus, I'm told I have a relaxing voice that puts people to sleep - I don't know if that's a compliment though... But yes! I do love listening to podcasts when I can. I like to explore and see what's out there, from big to small, it doesn't matter as long as it's interesting and fun.

When I started the podcast, I really just wanted to kill some time and keep my broadcasting and production skills sharp. Before too long I started getting some listeners, which was really awesome. I don't know what the future holds for Horror Shots, but I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

The podcast originally started about three years ago, but has gone over a few different facelifts as I found my niche and comfort level. The true Horror Shots podcast is approaching two years! I just started season 4, and I'm excited for the new chapter!

The podcast is on a weekly release schedule right now. It will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future. Each episode however takes varying degrees of time and effort to produce. Depending on the research involved, and how much information I find, they can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete.

As this is my baby, I can easily tuck away time in my week to record and produce the episodes, but to create a truly quality cast can take a lot of financial resources. Fortunately I had a lot of knowledge and gear from when I was in school, so I didn't take too much of a hit to the wallet as I've funded everything myself.

This podcast provides me a wonderful create and intellectual outlet. When I started I never expected to make any money off of it, but if I ever do I won't turn it down! I currently have one sponsor, but it's unpaid. It's more of a partnership if anything, and that was a very organic beginning.

I wrote a few reviews for my current sponsors website, and then I told them about the podcast, they loved it, and we've been partners ever since, which has been great! I've seen a steady increase in listeners every episode. Each one seems to pursue the last.

Ever since college I've used a version of Adobe audition. It's, in my humble opinion, one of the best audio editing software out there. It's perfect for what I need, even if it does act up once in a while. I just can't stay mad at it.

I've gone through a few different mic setups in my time too, from a cheap headset, to a standard USB, to an upgraded usb, to an XLR through a soundboard. I'm always looking to improve my quality to make the experience better for my listeners.

I love having people on the show, and when I do it's always been over Skype. I live in a fairly small town, and record from my not-so-spacious one bedroom apartment. Sadly I'm not set up for in person interviews...yet! Generally guests will contact me, but I've had one or two that I've gotten in touch with at conventions or through email.

But on a week to week basis, my process is fairly simple. I have a pot of topics I want to discuss, I'll pick one based on a few things; the theme, time if year, if something correlates with the time of year, etc... And then the research begins. I try to find as many sources possible, and make sure all the info is as legit as possible, pick the parts I want to use, organize my thoughts and process, then bam, the recording and production starts.

To get the show out there, I try to stay fairly active of social media. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have all been wonderful resources in terms of marketing and listener interaction. I also like to do giveaways once in a while as well, it always helps with meeting new listeners. And I feel like that's where most of my listeners come from as well, the direct link I share through those channels.

Most of my listeners come either directly from my website on their android phones. Roughly 60% anyway. From there they sub tho my RSS or castbox, which is another hi traffic app for my listeners. I would love to expand and have more people listen on iTunes, which is huge for discovery, but as long as people listen, I don't care where it's from!

Podcasting is a fun outlet, and just like any internet endeavor, you have to do it for the love of it. If you go in thinking you'll be the next Joe Rogan over night, you'll be disappointed very quickly. Podcasting is an art, just like any other, and it has to be a passion. Anything else that comes from it is just a bonus!

If there's anything I've learned on my journey is that it's important to have fun. People can tell if you don't enjoy doing it, and really, if you don't like it, why do it? Just relax and put it out there to start. Share it on your social media and keep your costs down until you feel ready to maybe take out a Facebook ad or something.

Besides there are countless resources available for free out there. Tons of YouTube channels, and even podcasts on how to build your own audience. And of course reach out! Podcasts and podcasters are a community of like minded people. Don't be afraid that you're stealing their audience or something. It's a podcast, people won't give up one to listen to another like a tv show that airs at the same time or something, making them have to choose.

If you want to learn more about the Horror Shots podcast, you can check it out at my website at horrorshots.com, on twitter @horrorshotspod
Instagram @horrorshotsphotography
Facebook.com/horrorshots
Or email me! I love hearing from people! horrorshotspodcast@gmail.com